Sound Leech
Sound Leech
CR 3 N Magical Beast
This fat worm is longer than a man is tall, creeping slowly with its stout head raised. Its body is a mottled color that seems to shift over time.
Sound leeches are strange magical annelids. They feed on sound, absorbing it into their bodies and creating an area of perpetual and supernatural quiet around them. Most sound leeches prefer to lurk passively near damp places where there are plenty of sounds to consume—under bridges with lots of traffic, near flocks of feeding waterfoul or by the banks of underwater rivers. Although they are gentle creatures, the eerie effects of their aura of silence may prompt adventurers to try and roust them from their haunts, or may encourage the hunting of keen eyed predators in the vicinity.
If a sound leech is disturbed, it can drop its aura of silence and release a pent-up blast of sonic energy, sometimes referred to as a “burp” by those that have heard it and survived. The blast is powerful enough to kill weaker assailants, and can stun stronger ones long enough for the sound leech to reposition itself and hide. If cornered, a sound leech will fight by battering foes with its upper body, but they are relatively ill equipped for offense.
Sound leeches, like many mundane worms, are hermaphroditic. When they come together to mate, both impregnate the other, and then lay a leathery cocoon that protects their single egg. Some eccentrics, particularly those with a fondness for peace and quiet, will pay good money for sound leech eggs or juveniles in order to create a permanent silent space.
A sound leech is about seven feet long and is four feet across at its widest point. They can live for a decade or so in the wild, and twice that if well cared for in captivity.
Sound Leech CR 3
XP 800
N Medium magical beast
Init +0; Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision, Perception +4
Aura silence (60 ft.)
Defense
AC 16, touch 10, flat-footed 16 (+6 natural)
hp 32 (3d10+15)
Fort +7, Ref +3, Will +3
Immune sonic
Defensive Qualities sonic healing
Offense
Speed 20 ft., swim 20 ft.
Melee slam +4 (1d4+1)
Special Attacks sonic pulse
Statistics
Str 13, Dex 11, Con 18, Int 1, Wis10, Cha 10
Base Atk +3; CMB +4; CMD 14 (cannot be tripped)
Feats Iron Will, Toughness
Skills Perception +4, Stealth +12, Swim +13; Racial Modifiers +8 Stealth
SQ camouflage
Ecology
Environment any marsh or underground
Organization solitary or pair
Treasure none
Special Abilities
Aura of Silence (Su) A sound leech radiates silence, as per the spell, in a 60 foot radius. A sound leech can activate or suppress this aura as a move action.
Camouflage (Ex) A sound leech can change its color at will. This grants it a +8 racial bonus on Stealth checks and allows it to make Stealth checks without cover or concealment in a natural setting.
Sonic Healing (Ex) A sound leech is immune to sonic damage. It heals 1 hit point for every 3 points of damage a sonic spell or effect would otherwise deal. This healing cannot exceed its total hit points.
Sonic Pulse (Su) As a standard action, a sound leech can emit a powerful burst of sonic energy in a 30 foot radius. All creatures in the area take 2d10 points of sonic damage and are stunned for 1d3 rounds. A successful DC 15 Fortitude save halves the damage and negates the stunning effect. A sound leech must wait a minute before using this ability again. The save DC is Constitution based.